Pay attention in class, do the reading and homework (make the effort to get the copies) and you should do fine. Ask for help on the papers, as the comments aren't really clear. If you're a natural, you'll do good.

SOOOOOOOOOOOO boring. Easy Class, but he has the social skills of a radish...maybe. If you want to learn real physics, take someone else.

he is very boring. i think he's a robot. but an excellent teacher. you will understand the material, if you don't fall asleep that is. tests are very fair and based off of homework... do homework, get good grade

Boring professor! But he's very helpful and caring to students. He always have time to answer your questions.

great teacher. I took his class at IVC. one of the best sience teacher around. I enjoyied his class. Very helpfull person, great personality. easy going. And he will give it 100% to make you understand the subject. Its physics, take it serious, study hard, do all the homework and you will get an A

Very clear lectures. Tests come from his lectures. Very helpful. Only thing is, if you take him in the morning, he gets a little bit boring and its a struggle to stay up if you're really tired. easy class.

compared to the other physics professors, dr. oliva is one of the best. sure his lecture's kind of boring, but wait til you see dr. shapiro. oh yeah you might want to take notes because his exams ARE based from them. not to mention the exam reviews too.

He is a really good man and is very passionate about physics. His class is very boring but his lecture and notes are the same thing. If you want to passed the class make sure you know how to do the homework questions and check your answers by getting the answers. It is very helpful for the test!

Complete dork, but one of the nicest teachers on campus. Sometimes he goes overboard with lectures and completely loses the class but overall very fair. tests are exactly liek notes, NOTHING like homework. If you go to class everyday, easily pass the class.

Dr. Oliva = biggest dork/introvert i've ever had. However, his lectures are boring yet a complete replica of the text. Attendence is not mandatory. Get the answers for the HW,study & the tests should be fine. If u need more help, Dr. Oliva is very helpful during class & office hours. I recommend if u want a kickback class. A-overall rate.

he is the most boring teacher in the world, but he is also one of the best. he is very helpful, and is available whenever you need him to be. he will go over topics to the point where you will be snoring, but stay awake, all the repeating helps for the tests. ask questions and study... i got an "A" and im not the greatest math/science person.

His class is very boring. people leave in the middle of his lectures. he lets us use cheat sheets for his exams so its SUPER easy. no need to attend the class if u can get his lectures from someone else. no text or reading required, just use the course notes.u dont have to turn in hwmk, but should use it to study for his exams.

I will take him again for other physic classes in the future!

He is by far the most UNDERVALUED professor in cal state...if you cant Ace his class you are a moron....He explains everything very clearly...his class is a little boring..but that has to do with he subject, not the teacher...

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Pros: Nice person, articulate speaker, explains concepts clearly and slowly, assigns reasonable homework each week, allows fact sheets (one-sided page of notes) for the 3 midterms and allows all 3 fact sheets for the final. Cons: Doesn't go over homework in class, nature of the subject can be uninteresting so students may get bored easily.

he is very dedicate to his students. come to his office hrs if you really lost in class. He will help you! don't judge his attitude....he is very understanding to all student's ability. i was not really studying in the class but his class grading system keeps me with a B =) take him

The class is EASY, he teaches ok, no need for the book, but the prof himself..... SOOOOOO boring! I passed out SO many times

He is very easy and helpful, he never gets mad or run out of patience. I like him. He wears the same pair of jean and white shoes through out the whole semester

Very niceguy...very articulate and makes the physics class comfortable...im a physics major and can hands down say he is one of the best if notthe best in the phys dept...ive talked to at least 4 engineers that say they would switch to physics if he taught more classes.....

nice guy. goes over the material very slowly. i had him for 50 min. and his lectures prob. repeated themselves 4 times in that short period. no need to do all of the homework, you dont turn it in. dont use your book too much, his notes cover everything. tests are easy, class average was a B or better.

Great professor, a must take.

Just put in effort and he'll explain anything. His lectures are drawn out long. Goes over a single concept like 3 times and refers back to it a lot. He repeats his words to make sure people get the point. HW/Attendance not mandatory. Just use study guide before tests and you will pass. Very dedicated to physics and good professor give him a break!

Don't buy the book. Just go to class and the book isn't needed. Take notes (just rewrite whatever is on the board/overhead) and put those notes on cheat sheets. (every test=1 cheat sheet, 3 tests, final=4 cheat sheets) No need to do homework. I just went to class and did well on tests and got an A. Totally helps if you talk to him about your grade.

Great prof., extremely helpful, explains very well, hws. are not exactly easy but it is phys. The tests are fairly easy once you go over the study guide. The problems in the study guide are almost the same as on the test! Lowest of 3 mids. is dropped. Best phys. prof. I ever had, explains everything super clearly! I'm not into phys. but got A.@

His lectures are really dry but it's real easy and would recommend taking his class! i Never used that packet you had to buy and he gives you the study guides for the tests and lets you use a cheat sheet. He's really helpful and will answer any questions if there's something you don't understand. Take him if you can!

Go to class and take notes, his notes/example problems are what is going to be on the exam. He's very clear with what will be expected on the exam and you get an index card. He's very thorough during lecture, so you won't get confused. Great Prof.

great teacher

Prof. Oliva has a unique way of teaching, he goes step by step through the class material. Its actually really amusing, but the class is a breeze overall. A few exams that you can use notes on and a couple papers. Easy A.

I took him for 225 and 226. Awesome teacher. He makes this as fun as it can be for what he is teaching. I actually understood him though and trust me he will explain anything if you want him to. Take good notes and EXAMPLE PROBLEMS IN CLASS also go to his office hours every week. He gives you points for it and you can get to know him he is really c

his class is extremely easy but he is a really boring teacher.

Best teacher ever, simple lectures and easy tests.

good really good

Very easy class, and he tests are also very easy. However, his lectures are boring.

Boring lecture but easy class. Made everything clear and easy to understand. Easy tests. Take notes on lectures.

Boring class, but he is very nice and willing to help with anything you need. You have to go to class though.

His classes are very dry and boring so don't expect anything much there...you do have to go to class and pay attention to keep up with whats going on but if you have any questions he will do anything to help you understand. i can honestly say he was one of the nicest and most helpful professors i've had.

Tedious class..but afterall, it's physics. If you miss a class, you miss A LOT. He lectures all period with a lot of note taking. We didn't get a textbook, it's more of a booklet created by a professor from CSUF. BUY IT. It was very helpful when it came to extra credit essays and tests preparation.

THE BEST PHYS TEACHER I'VE EVER HAD HANDS DOWN!! really clear and patient during office hours, gives handouts for difficult concepts,if you pass with A on final its auto A for class, 84.5 is lowest for A, no +-system,lectures can be a bit boring sometimes but as long as you learn something from doing the hw and understand his notes youre good to go

great guy, but boring teacher. he talks in monotone and you take notes on what he writes down. i didnt use his book at all and got a B, tests are challenging but not to hard.

The lectures are pretty boring, but should be attended for note taking. The time I took him we were allowed 8½ by 11 inch one side fact sheet with anything you wanted to put on it.

Great professor, I learned a lot. his lectures are a bit boring but he has to keep the material easy for the freshman to learn. I did not study and earned an a. the tests are easy just take notes!

must take this class! Exams are extremely easy, just study your lecture notes. EVERYTHING ON THE NOTES IS ON THE TEST. you don't need to buy the book. 3 mid terms 1 final. he drops the lowest score for the midterm. 2 easy papers!. after taking this class im thinking about majoring in physics. i love olivia :)

one cheat sheet per test and 4 for the final. Tests are regurgitated questions and he gives a thorough study guide covering the test topics. He lectures straight from the book so you can either skip class and have someone sign you in, or read the book. You don't need to do both for an A. He curves the class at the end and drops the lowest midterm.

Professor Oliva is definitely recommended! Super nice teacher who is willing to help students whenever is needed and if you cant make his office hours, he will work with your schedule. 2 essays, 3 midterms and 1 final, 1 3x5 notecard for each midterm (double sided) and 4 for the final. Make sure to attend class for a 5% subjective bonus.

This class was really easy, but I learned a LOT! I sat in the front, but if I didn't I probably would have fallen asleep because it was so boring. Oliva is really nice and explains topics thoroughly. Overall it was a good intro to physics course.

I had taken 2 years of physics in high school prior to this so it was really easy for me. But he is very knowledgeable about the subject and wants to help his students out if you ask for it. Attendance IS MANDATORY! You lose a percentage if you miss a day! (which adds up) Overall, I would take him again if I had the chance!

Very easy physics class. He explains every concept Thoroughly. So thoroughly, in fact, that it's overkill at times. Homework is a joke. Study the review sheet he gives you before each test and you'll ace the class.

This class mainly consists of taking notes..literally took notes the entire class period and he sometimes even went over the time limit (by a minute or two). This class is very easy since he allows us to use flashcards for each exam. The study guide he gave us were VERY helpful, so make sure to include all that onto your flashcard. great teacher :)

BEST TEACHER EVER!! He's so nice and makes SUCH A genuine effort to help his students understand the class. The course itself is very rigorous and intense but a good teacher can make it bearable. He is so helpful and so nice!! Everything is based of off lecture notes so go to class and you'll be beyond fine !!

Great teacher gives the class extra credit opportunity if the average test scores were low. Didn't even read the text book and passed. Just study the notes and previous quizzes for the test. Lets you write anything on a note card for the test. He is kind of boring but very clear and helpful in teaching. He wants to make sure that you get it.

This guy has his lectures DOWN, he ends on the minute everyday. He repeats himself often but for clarity and ensure repetition. He is very knowledgeable. He allows a note card for every exam, and drops your lowest exams at the end of the semester. TAKE NOTES! WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING! Then put it all together alongside the study guide for an A.

He takes .5 points off of your final for every unexcused absence. The tests are pretty much the lecture, but its hard to pay attention to the lectures because they can be boring. If you REALLY pay attention in class, then the textbook isn't necessarily needed. And HW... don't really need to do.

if you are a person who likes a fast-paced environment DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!! i was so bored & decided to read the book in class instead of pay attention. What should've been an easy A became a B all because it's just so hard to focus on the lecture when he's so redundant... if you like it when professors go super slow & explain then take him

Very nice man. Lectures are tedious and people do drift away. He allows for cheat sheet cards for every exam including final which is cumulative. If physics isnt your strength go with another GE class instead. The content does get more dry as the semester continues. Cool guy though.

Highly Recommended!! Professor Oliva is very clear on his explanation of his lectures. He does repeat a lot, which is a good thing as just to make sure you understand the material. There are 3 midterms and a cumulative final. You can use one note card for each of the mid-terms and a total of 4 note cards for the finals. All the exams are easy.

SUPER EASY. Attendance is mandatory. Never paid attention, nor did I ever study for the class. Just write down all the stuff on the study guide for your cheat sheet that he allows and you should get a good grade. I didnt use the book at all, so dont buy it. 2 easy papers + 4 test. Managed to get a solid B. He curves! Nice & understanding professor!

All his exams and quiz are MC. Some concepts here and there but mostly calculations. He doesn't try to trick you either. No matter how you play with the numbers, you will come across one number on his MC. That's your answer. Plus even if you do bad, if you get an A on the final, you get an A for the class. Yes lectures are boring but he's awesome.

His lectures are pretty painfully drawn out, but you can tell he is stoked on physics. He really wants everyone to pass he curves his grading scale BIG. 45%-59% is a D and 60%-79% is a C. Tests are straight forward and essays are graded by a student grader who seemed to give everyone As. I was going to hate physics regardless, Oliva made it better.

He takes 1/3 of a point off for every unexcused absence. He's very straight forward with his grading scale. He's very open if you need help. Take notes because it will help you. He allows you to bring a 3x5 note card front and back to his exams. (Very helpful!)

He gives out handouts each class. His questions are all MC. About 5 of the 40 exam questions are not just calculations, but concepts too. His handouts are key if you're struggling. Even if you screw up on every quiz and exam, if you learn from your mistakes and get an A in the final, you get an automatic A in the course. He curves a bit too + EC.

Dr. Oliva made Physics 225 Lab enjoyable since he goes through the lab and makes them understandable and helps with the calculations. This man is AMAZING!!!! If you get the chance to get him for lab take him! If you need help or have any questions Dr. Oliva will help and answer any questions or doubts you have. I would take him again if I could.

Gives very informative, and very clear, lectures, yet his delivery could use some improvement (fell asleep more than once). Very caring about individual students, also has a very lenient grade scale (60-80 percent is a C). Three main exams, lowest one is dropped. Allows index cards for exams; very easy to pass if you take the right notes.

Dr. Oliva is a great caring teacher. The material is very difficult but he makes it enjoyable to learn, curves the tests and cares about his students alot. By far one of the best teachers at CSUF. Take him!

Although I found the class extremely difficult I do not blame Professor Oliva, he was very helpful and clearly understood that this was not anyones major or priority since it was physics for non science majors. I enjoyed his class and I would strongly recommend doing the homework assignments.

Professor Oliva was an awesome dude! His lectures can be dry (if you don't care about physics) but he is passionate about what he teaches. He is very willing to help you out if you need it and always make sure to be available during office hours. You'll need the textbook to study for exams and two app papers.

Very nice man, he is willing to go out of his way to meet the needs of his students. Although I personally ad a hard time absorbing his lectures, he was willing to work with me in office hours to get my grade whee I wanted it. This material is definitely difficult and requires special attention. So if you want a good output, give a strong input!

I always wanted to take physics and was discouraged because of how "hard" it is. This class was so interesting and easy to understand, I wonder who the dummy is? Probably, still me, but Professor Oliva makes the info so easy to understand. He also works with you. Great guy to have as a Professor. You'll likely pass. Book is cheap too.

He is very straightforward in his teaching. Although he may seem a bit on the timid side, he is very articulate in his explanations. When some topics were not clear to me, office hours were always very helpful. The great benefit of his class is if you get an A on the final, you get an A in the course. I highly recommend taking him!

This is a guy who cares about his students! He more than willing to see you outside of class, he responds quickly to email. In addition, he sends out email outlining in detail what you can expect to see on quizzes and tests. Lets you bring a "fact card" to each test. GO TO SI SESSIONS as he shares test information with SI leaders before tests!!

With prior physics knowledge from high school, this class was an easy A. Professor Oliva is amazing and he is very patient and willing to help! Though the class is lectured based, he provides good outlines of the material. There are 3 midterms (he drops the lowest), two papers, and a final. Homework is optional, but do it because it helps!11

Very great professor. He's very passionate about physics and is really easy to understand. He allowed us to make a formula sheet on an index card every time we had an exam. Just study the notes taken during lectures for the exams. For extra understanding, read the book he recommends for the class and do the practice problems.

he is such a sweet, nice, older man! Sure his class may drag at times but it's definitely not the worst thing in the world. People often say rude things about him and his teaching style which makes me really mad because he's very sweet and takes his time explaining everything with examples and demos

Professor Oliva was the most fair and reasonable physics teacher I have had. His tests are pretty much out of his lecture. Homework is from the book. Before each test and quiz he will let you know what kind of problems will be on the test so you know what concepts to study. If you have the option, you should take him!

He does a good job explaining the concepts and repeats a lot because some of the concepts are a bit difficult to grasp. 3 quizzes(drop 1 lowest), 2 mid-term, 1 cumulative final (Keep the note cards you made!), which all are heavily based on the lectures. He gives topics on what to expect from test and study your lecture notes, you'll be golden.

This is a very sweet professor, and it quite understanding. He clearly loves what he does and is very patient in lecturing and answering questions. He allows a notecard for the exams on which anything can be written. I do recommend doing the homework although it is not collected or graded. I would definitely take this class again.

He's a great teacher and has passion for the subject. He takes his time thoroughly explaining concepts and terms. The text helps with concepts as well. Don't skip class because he gives great lectures to help you. "Cheat sheets" are allowed on exams (front and back of 1 index card). Final is cumulative (4 index cards). Papers are VERY easy.

Make sure you pay attention in the lecture and take very good notes. Study the notes and make sure you have everything down! Loved his class.

Very solid professor who doesn't make physics too complicated. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about Physics without having to be scared of equations or crazy theoretical work. Very nice guy, always open to helping you if you need it.

I was honestly worried about taking this course, as physics has usually been my weakest of the natural sciences. However, Professor Oliva is very straight forward and has clear lectures that do help when studying for midterms. Just pay attention and go to office hours and you shouldn't worry too much. Plus he's really reasonable and nice.

Great professor ! I was sacred going into this class but he made physics applicable and clear to understand. If you work hard, you will get the grade you want.

He is a very nice professor. The exams are exactly the lectures and notes he gives. If you work hard, go to office hours, you will easily get a high grade. He answers your questions clearly, and he gives all his love in teaching. One of the best professors in csuf. Recommend for everyone.

Great professor

Definitely one of the better professors that I've taken. Don't be fooled by his gruff demeanor, he's a very nice and caring person, is always helpful, and always answers questions. I'd just advise people show up on time (or early) and pay very close attention, because there's a LOT of information and notes to take in his lectures.

There are three midterms before the final. Professor drops your lowest midterm and are able to use a note card for the exams. There are two essays. The book is not mandortory unless you dont show up to class because theres a lot of information. Overall great professor and very nice.

Pretty straightforward and easy class, three midterms and the final, with your lowest midterm score dropped, and two easy papers. Copy and study the slides from the lecture and skim through the work and you'll do well. Only downside is that lectures can be a little boring sometimes, other than that hes a really good professor

He is super nice and very passionate about what he teaches. During lecture, he repeats the information several times to make sure students understand. There are 3 midterms, a final, and two papers. During the exams, we are able to have a 3x5 index card to fill with information. He drops the lowest midterm. The papers are super easy.

This is one of the easiest Physics professors I've ever had! There are three midterms that you get to use a cheat sheet on and he tells you what each question on the exam is going to be! He did have a hard time transiting over to online, but overall this class is pretty easy.

Attendance werent mandatory. He gives out hw but just for practice, isnt graded. This semester he drop everyones individual lowest midterm. Exams were okay, you take it at given time and email him your paper before the due time. Not proctored or anything, very simple.